Wanda Lou Ritchie

Wanda Lou Ritchie, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025, in Selma, Texas, at the age of 92. She was born on September 20, 1932, in Mineral Wells, Texas, to Russell Woods and Bessie Payne.

Raised on a family farm in Athens, Texas, Wanda was a woman of strength, resilience, and warmth. She married Donald Erbin Ritchie, and together they raised three boys while he worked in the oilfields. Over the years, Wanda and her family moved frequently, living in various towns across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Through it all, she was the heart of her home, a steadfast and loving mother who knew how to balance sternness with unconditional love.

A remarkable woman with a unique ability to read a room and connect with others, Wanda was known for her sharp wit and her sincere, kind heart. She ran her own daycare for many years, nurturing and caring for numerous children, leaving a lasting impact on the families she served.

Wanda will be fondly remembered for her delicious banana pudding and sweet tea, staples of her hospitality and love for those around her. It was all too common to have a friendly game of Dominos or Spinners at Wanda’s house. She had a way of making everyone feel at home, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Wanda is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Springer; her sons, Cory and Jon Ritchie; and sisters, Mary, Ruth and Betty Lou.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Robert Ritchie and wife, Kathy; grandchildren, Russell Ritchie and wife, Anna, Sarah Baimbridge and her husband, Cody, Donald Ritchie and wife, Shandrell and Keri Rocha and husband, Gustavo, 10 great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Wanda’s legacy of love, kindness, and family will live on through all those whose lives she touched. She will be deeply missed.